10 Best Thanksgiving Sides Recipes from Instagram
We won’t hold it against you if you said side dishes were your favorite part of Thanksgiving!
From the creamy richness of mashed potatoes and the sweet and savory blend in cranberry sauce to the comforting warmth of stuffing and the crispness of green beans, these dishes add a variety of tastes that turkey alone cannot provide.
And the versatility of Thanksgiving sides in leftovers is unmatched. They can be repurposed in a variety of ways, from a simple reheating to becoming key ingredients in new dishes like turkey and stuffing sandwiches, casseroles, or soups.
If you love making side dishes just as much as we do, check out our roundup of the 10 best Thanksgiving sides recipes from our favorite Instagram creators! We cover all the iconic side dishes you expect on your dinner table this holiday!
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1. Classic homemade stuffing by @theseasoned.skillet
Ideal as a side dish, this stuffing recipe from Taneisha is versatile enough to pair not only with turkey but also with chicken, making it a staple for both Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts. Its preparation in a casserole dish allows for a delightful crispy top layer, while the inside remains tender and moist, creating a delightful contrast in textures - making it the perfect complement for your turkey.
The magic of this stuffing recipe lies in its harmonious blend of fresh herbs and a deliciously flavorful broth, which when baked, transforms the bread into a moist yet firm texture that’s neither too soggy nor too dry. The choice of herbs like parsley and thyme, coupled with the subtle yet essential poultry seasoning, imparts a traditional taste that’s both comforting and deeply satisfying. It’s a must-try recipe this Thanksgiving!
2. The creamiest mashed potatoes by @lizlovegrowswild
Made with a mix of Yukon Gold and Russet potatoes, these mashed potatoes from Liz Fourez are enhanced with butter, heavy cream (or half-and-half), and cream cheese, creating a luxuriously smooth consistency. Seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and a touch of garlic, they’re perfectly balanced in flavor and hold together the various components of your Thanksgiving plate, from the savory turkey to the tangy cranberry sauce.
3. Fresh green bean casserole by @saltandlavender
Using fresh green beans in this green bean casserole recipe from Nat Bull can significantly elevate the dish’s taste, transforming it into a standout side for any Thanksgiving feast. Fresh green beans offer a vibrant green color and a superior texture compared to their canned counterparts, which are often mushy. The freshness of the beans contributes to a more pronounced and natural green bean flavor, enhancing the overall taste profile of the casserole.
The use of fresh ingredients extends beyond just the green beans. Freshly sautéed mushrooms, minced garlic, and homemade sauce made from butter, flour, broth, heavy cream, and Dijon mustard add layers upon layers of intense flavor! The sauce, thickened to the consistency of Alfredo, coats the beans and mushrooms, creating a rich and indulgent experience. Finish it with a a touch of Italian seasoning and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and you’ve got yourself an all-star Thanksgiving side dish.
4. Cheesy sweet corn pie by @festivalfoods
This cheesy sweet corn pie recipe from Festival Foods is an unconventional yet incredibly flavorful and rich side dish that could easily steal the show this Thanksgiving. This dish combines the natural sweetness of corn with the creamy, savory goodness of cheese and a delightful crunchy topping, creating a symphony of flavors and textures that are both comforting and indulgent.
Key to this dish’s appeal is the use of both fresh sweet corn (or thawed frozen corn) and a blend of cheddar and fontina cheeses. The sweet corn brings a gentle, natural sweetness and a tender texture that pairs beautifully with the rich, melty goodness of the cheeses. The cheddar cheese adds a familiar, sharp tang, while the fontina, known for its creamy melting qualities, contributes to the dish’s luxurious texture.
Bake until the top turns golden brown and the inside is set, and you’ll have a perfect blend of sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy elements all in one dish!
5. Tangy cranberry sauce by @freutcake
Cranberry sauce is a key player on Thanksgiving for its refreshing tanginess. This recipe from Leah Bergman features a delightful balance of sweet, tart, and citrusy from cranberry, brown sugar, and orange zest.
Why is this cranberry sauce a must-have at the Thanksgiving table? It boils down to four C’s:
Contrast: Its tang cuts through the richness of traditional Thanksgiving dishes, cleansing your palate for maximum enjoyment.
Complement: Its bright acidity and fruity flavor beautifully pair with savory elements, adding a burst of freshness.
Complexity: This recipe adds depth with a hint of sweetness, a touch of spice, and citrusy brightness from orange.
Color: Its vibrant red hue adds visual appeal to the table, contrasting the usual earth tones.
Homemade cranberry sauce with its vibrant flavors plays a crucial role in a fulfilling Thanksgiving menu by balancing tastes and adding a visually festive touch.
6. Mashed sweet potatoes with chili butter by @perrysplate
This recipe from Perry’s Plate is a delicious and easy-to-prepare side dish for Thanksgiving. Natalie uses an Instant Pot in her recipe to cook the sweet potatoes quickly and evenly for mashing, and then enhances their flavor profile by using a unique orange-chili butter.
This combination of ingredients - including melted butter or ghee, orange zest, apple cider vinegar, and a hint of crushed red pepper flakes - creates a rich, tangy, and slightly spicy taste. The orange zest adds a citrusy freshness that complements the natural sweetness of the potatoes, while the apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes introduce a subtle tang and warmth.
These sweet potatoes are the perfect complement to your Yukon Gold or Russet mashed potatoes!
7. Lion House rolls by @plumstreetcollective
Shannon Lyon’s dinner roll recipe brings a light and flaky texture to the Thanksgiving table, making them an ideal choice for scooping up any leftover ingredients on your dinner plate! These rolls, a favorite from the Lion House Pantry in Salt Lake City, Utah, are celebrated for their soft, buttery texture, which is a result of their unique preparation and ingredients.
Made with ingredients of warm water, nonfat instant dry milk, active dry yeast, sugar, salt, butter, an egg, and flour, these rolls turn out soft, buttery, and rich in flavor. The unique shaping process contributes to their flaky layers, and once baked, they have a golden-brown exterior and a tender, airy interior.
8. Homemade turkey gravy by @natashaskitchen
This homemade turkey gravy recipe from Natasha Kravchuk is a flavorful and easy-to-make addition that perfectly complements Thanksgiving turkey. Utilizing the rich and seasoned turkey pan drippings, this gravy brings a depth of flavor that surpasses store-bought options. The cooking process is straightforward and quick, transforming the drippings with flour and milk into a savory gravy in just about 5 minutes.
This recipe is easily adaptable! Allowing for gluten-free flour substitutions or the use of butter and stock if turkey drippings aren’t available. Additional seasonings like thyme, parsley, or rosemary can be added to suit personal preferences. Overall, this gravy pairs wonderfully with turkey and mashed potatoes and can be used to add flavor to stuffing and dinner rolls.
9. Roasted Brussels sprouts by @weelicious
If you want to add a hint of health at the dinner table this upcoming Thanksgiving, consider Catherine McCord’s roasted Brussels sprouts recipe!
Her recipe involves roasting fresh Brussels sprouts with olive oil and salt until they’re crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This simple preparation method brings out the natural sweetness and nuttiness of the Brussels sprouts, making them more appetizing, especially for those who aren’t the biggest fan of this veggie.
The addition of grated Parmesan cheese, toasted almonds, and a touch of lemon juice after roasting adds layers of flavor - the cheese provides a savory depth, the almonds offer a delightful crunch, and the lemon juice contributes a refreshing zest.
10. Brown sugar cornbread by @grilledcheesesocial
Check out this delicious viral TikTok cornbread recipe from MacKenzie Smith, which has gained popularity for its unique twist on traditional cornbread, making it a standout dish. The recipe, originally shared by @chopslap on TikTok, has garnered over 4.4 million views and 603,000 likes at the time of writing this, so you know it’s a hit!
We won’t spoil it, but this recipe calls for Jiffy Cornbread Mix as its base, enriched with both white and brown sugars, whole milk, sour cream, and a generous amount of butter. The addition of vanilla extract, especially Mexican vanilla, adds a unique flavor.
Baked in a cast iron skillet or an aluminum loaf pan, the cornbread achieves a golden, crispy top. The use of sour cream ensures it remains super moist, while the final topping of room temperature butter and flaky salt, added post-baking, enhances its rich taste and texture. MacKenzie knocked this recipe out of the park!
Get your sides ready for Thanksgiving!
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Tag @grocerslist in the IG comments of a recipe you like.
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